CTFishTalk.com: CT River 12/4 - Connecticut River Reports ( CT River Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

DCAJ · Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Posts: 76 Location: Berlin, CT

The weather forecast called for a nice day with temperatures in the 50's so I headed down to the Salmon River boat launch. I wanted to try Chapmans Pond but with the outgoing tide, I knew I'd be heading over to the canal.

Well, the weather didn't turn out like I thought it would. When I got down there, I ran into Bob (NWDarkCloud) and Jason (JJay). They had no rain gear so they were holding off launching until the rain passed.

I worked my way up the river almost all the way to the end of the canal with nothing more than seeing a pike follow my lure up to the boat.

When I got close to the end of the canal, I got nice hit on a Strike King red eye shad and brought in a 29 inch pike. All the fish I caught this day were on that Strike King red eye shad. I've had a lot of luck with it lately.

Here I am having a conversation with the fish before releasing it.

I then had another hit that I thought was a monster pike.It turned out, I foul hooked a carp that had to be about 15 pounds, no pic, I released it on the side of the boat.

Then, at the end of the canal I hooked into a 16 inch bass

The action slowed down and I started heading back, about halfway down the canal I got another hit and was sure it was a pike. When I got a close look, I could see it was a pickerel, and a very big pickerel.
The pickerel was 26 inches long. The biggest pickerel I've ever caught.

Here's another pickerel pic

Wet rainy day but still better than work.

PECo · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 5203 Location: Avon, CT

Wow, Dave! I'm glad that you had a better day on the river than Greg and I had on Bantam Lake. It makes me feel a lot better about making the long drive down to Haddam all of the time.
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DCAJ · Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Posts: 76 Location: Berlin, CT

Thanks Phil. Not a lot of action but not bad I guess for this time of year.
The canal always seems to produce.

Redneckangler · Joined: 05 May 2012 Posts: 851 Location: Meriden, CT

Always manage decent fish in the canal and Chapmans this time of year. What am I saying? The canal sucks. Stay away. The fish have all gone home for the winter. No sense in fishing there any more! Very Happy

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Michael · Joined: 28 Jan 2012 Posts: 3823 Location: Bridgeport

Awesome pickerel! Did you get a weight? That had to be over 4 pounds.

WTG!

DCAJ · Joined: 04 Jun 2012 Posts: 76 Location: Berlin, CT

Sorry Michael,
I didn't get a weight on it, but it was a fat pickerel. The fish was really tangled in the treble hooks and I had a hard time getting it free.
Once I got it unhooked, I just got it right back in the water.

pikePERSUADER1 · Joined: 07 Dec 2010 Posts: 521

Nice picky, its 4-5lbs. for sure, I get at least one that size every season fishing goldens on a bobber for pike Wink

(usually in the back of Keeney)

JJay · Joined: 23 Sep 2011 Posts: 113 Location: Farmington, CT

Good job Dave !

Unfortunately, Bob & I had to call it quits - we would of been soaked!